Moberly qualifes six wrestlers to State

Six Spartans wrestlers will get a shot at a state medal during the 83rd MSHSAA Wrestling Championships held Thursday through Saturday at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia.

The group were among wrestlers from 10 schools that competed at the Class 2 District 2 tournament held at St. Charles West H.S. on Feb. 8-9 and finished within the top four of their respective weight class to qualify for state.

As a team, Moberly placed fifth and four of the Spartans qualifiers are making a return to the state’s grandest stage in high school wrestling; senior Brennen Dixson, juniors Dominick Guthrie , Travis Gittemeier and Blake Joiner.

“We did pretty good at districts. There were some really competitive weight classes, and I’m really happy for Blake Joiner and Dominick Guthrie who ended up winning their weight class at districts,” said Moberly varsity wrestling coach Sam Richardson. “We had a couple of seniors who did not qualify, but had a wonderful year of wrestling and that’s Jalen Troy (195) and Nathan Sowers (160). I think Nathan wrestled his best tournament of his high school career at districts. He went 3-2 but his weight class was very competitive with both of his losses were to state medalists of a year ago.”

Guthrie (32-15) earned a 5-3 decision win against Fulton’s Trenton Clines, an opponent which he has now defeated 2-of-3 matches against this season, in the 138-pound championship match.

At state, Guthrie received the third-seed and his first round opponent on Thursday will be Odessa soph. Jake Bartow (40-14).

Joiner (38-6) spent most of the season competing at 160 when he chose to take a risk and compete up a weight class going into districts. Joiner found success, winning all three of his matches at districts including a 5-2 decision against St. Charles West’s Blake Rugraff in the first place match.

Joiner received the fifth seed at the state tournament and his first round opponent is Affton jr. Ricardo Duver (24-21).

“We have been talking about Blake moving up to compete at 170 for about a month now, and lately Blake has been able to put on a few pounds to compete better at that weight class. He wrestled very well at 170 and I was not surprised in what he was able to do. Blake had a first round bye at districts, and I think he wrestles much better during a tournament when he does not have to sit and wait. Blake needs to be wrestling every round and be active, that is one of his strengths,” said coach Richardson. “Dominick is competing in a weight class that I thought was pretty even and there were several kids who could have finished in the top four, and that because of this it was possible for Dominick not to qualify at all. He has really come along and improved his wrestling ability very well this past month. This was his third time wrestling Clines of Fulton and Dominick wrestled very smart against him, especially in the third period to win it.”

Dixson (35-12) was pinned in the district championship match by Winfield’s Kyle Lippmann and finished second at 152-pounds to qualify. Dixson is a 13th seed and will meet Marshall sr. Nick Harper (29-7) in the first round.

From a field of 16 state qualifiers in each weight class, Gittemeier returns to be the 10th seed at 145 following his fourth place finish at districts Gittemeier (30-17) will compete against Smithville jr. Dalton Tipton in his first round match.

Junior Jeff Kinder placed fourth at 285. Kinder (31-9) lost 9-8 in the third place match to Fulton’s Clayton Bristol. He will be the 16th seed at state when he battles No. 1 seed Daniel Terrana (42-3), a senior from Ste. Genevieve.

After missing more than one-half of the wrestling season due to injury, John Heimann competed well enough at districts to qualify for state when the Moberly freshman finished fourth at 132-pounds. Heimann (10-6) is the 10th seed when he faces Bolivar soph. Levi Hopkins (36-8) during his first round match.

“I’m pretty happy for all of our kids that qualified for state. It’s a great accomplishment, and I know my assistant coaches feel the same way,” said coach Richardson. “For John Heimann to miss about half of the season and for him to wrestle as well as he did at the end of our season and as a freshman for him to qualify for state is a little extra special. That’s because of his dad (Doug) being an assistant coach and all. Although I’m excited for all our kids and their families, Because of our close relationship through the years, I’m a little more happy for the Heimann family. This is going to be kind of neat experience at state this year.”